NC Campus Compact VISTAs based at Queens played an important role in this success by supporting a partnership with a local elementary school.
"Our motto at Queens is 'Not to be served, but to serve,' and through our 80,353 hours of service this year I'm confident we're living our motto in a meaningful way," said Dr. Pamela Davies, president of Queens.
In September of 2011, the Carolina Panthers challenged Queens to perform 75,000 hours of service throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system and beyond. Sedgefield Elementary School was identified as a key community service partner in 2011 and teachers identified areas of need throughout the school year for Queens to offer assistance.
Last year, Queens VISTA Abby Burkland acted as a key liaison with the school, facilitating a number of initiatives that supported Sedgefield student success, including the development of a mentoring program that matches Queens students and Sedgefield children with help from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte. In the current project year, NC Campus Compact VISTA Christina D'Aulerio will work to expand and institutionalize the partnership.
Yesterday's celebration brought Sedgefield students and teachers to the Queens campus, where they danced along with the Panthers' mascot and Queens cheerleaders. Every child received a book to acknowledge their hard work toward academic goals.
NC Campus Compact Executive Director Dr. Lisa Keyne attended the celebration, along with Sedgefield principal Ivy Gill and representatives from the Charlotte City Council, CMS district, and Habitat for Humanity. "Queens' Center for Active Citizenship has made a deep impact by connecting college students with elementary students. This partnership is a model for focused, sustained community engagement," Keyne said.
"Volunteering at Sedgefield had more of an impact on my life than any other service activity I have ever taken part in. I became not only more humble, but felt even more blessed," said Whitney Liotti, a Queens' student. "A young girl told me she dreamed of attending Queens when she grew up. In that moment I realized my reality was another child's dream. The impact of this experience made me value my education at Queens... and heightened my desire to be my best as a Queens' student and Sedgefield volunteer.
Read more here: Queens Celebrates Win with Carolina Panthers and CMS
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